Game apparatus



p 1961 w. H. SCHAPER 2,998,973

GAME APPARATUS Filed July 6, 1959 F/ci. 7\ 3.

United States Patent 2,998,973 GAME APPARATUS William H. Schaper,Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to Schaper Manufacturing Co., Inc.,Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed July 6, 1959, Ser.No. 825,252 9 Claims. (Cl. 273- 1) This invention relates to gameapparatus and more particularly it relates to apparatus for use in agame of skill in maneuvering a playing member along a concealed surfacein a manner to avoid predetermined obstacles or barriers placedtherealong.

It is contemplated as a general object of my invention to provide anovel game of skill which will be highly enjoyed by players of all ages.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel game apparatusthrough the use of which players may compete in skill, finesse andjudgment.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel game apparatus inthe use of which players can compete in ability to maneuver a playingmember along passages of a concealed surface in a manner to avoidobstacles placed along certain of the passages.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fullyappear from be following description, made in connection withtheaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to thesame or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan viev. of my novel game apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section taken on lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 and lookingin the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of one of the decks of my novel gameapparatus.

Referring now to the drawings and specifically to FIG. 1, it will beseen that my novel game apparatus includes a plurality of flat decksjuxtaposed in angular side-byside relation to thereby define a pyramid11. Pyramid 11 is supported on a truncated pyramidal-shaped suport 12which may be formed of substantially rigid cardboard material and whichincludes a plurality of sides 13. The particular shape of each of thesides 13 is that of an isosceles trapezoid and each side 13, of course,supports one of the decks 11 in spaced relationship thereon. Ahorizontal platform 14 interconnects the upper edges of sides 13 andprovides a support for a receptacle which will be described later.Support 12, as shown in FIG. -2, is also positioned in a receptaclecontainer 15 having a bottom wall 16 and upstanding low peripheral walls17. It will be noted that sides 13 of support 12 terminate downwardly innarrow horizontally extending flanges 18 which abut peripheral walls 17to thereby define a narrow channel 19. Referring now to FIG. 3, it willbe seen that each deck 11 also has the shape of an isosceles trapezoidand includes parallel top and bottom edges 20 and 21 respectively andinclined side edges 22. Deck 11, as seen in FIG. 2, is substantiallyflat in cross sectional shape and is formed of a somewhat rigid opaquematerial having non-magnetic properties or material which is not capableof being magnetized such as plastic or the like.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that each deck 11 whenpositioned upon a side 13 of support 12 has an upper or a player-exposedsurface 23 and a lower or player-concealed surface 24. Each deck 11 isalso. provided with a pair of integrally formed flanges which extendlaterally from player-concealed surface 24 and spaced inwardly andsubstantially parallel to side edges 22. Flanges 25 function as supportmeans and serve to support deck 11 in spaced relationship upon itscorresponding side 13 of support 12.

Each of the decks 11, as seen in FIG. 3, are provided with a pluralityof barrier-retaining elements 26 extending laterally from playerconcealed surface 24. Barrierretaining elements 26 are spaced in apredetermined relation to thereby define a plurality of verticalpassages extending between bottom edge 20 and top edge 21 and aplurality of transverse passages extending between inclined sides 22. Aplurality of elongated barrier elements 27 have their ends notched as at28 for detachably engaging selected adjacent barrier-retaining elements26 to thereby block certain of the passages. Referring now to FIG. 1, itwill be seen that player-exposed surface 23 is provided with a pluralityof raised cross elements or indicia 29 and each of which registers withone of the barrierretaining elements 26 to thereby define passagesthereon corresponding to the passages defined by the barrierretainingelement 26 on player-concealed surface 24.

A playing member 30, as seen in FIG. 2, is in the form of a steel balland is held against player-concealed surface 24 by a playing controlmember 3-1 which ineludes an elongated hollow tube 32 formed of plasticmaterial. A magnetized element 33 is positioned within and disposed atone end of tube 32 and the other end of tube 32 has a laterallyextending offset portion 34 having an opening formed therein forsecuring one end of a flexible cord 35 thereto. Flexible cord 35 is alsoattached to one of the peripheral walls 17 to thereby prevent accidentalmisplacement of the playing control member 31. It will also be notedthat a playing control member 31 is provided for each of the decks 10 ofpyramid 11 and that each playing control member 31 is used in the mannerof a stylus or the like whereby the end of tube 32 having magneticelement 33 therein is held against the player-exposed surface 23 and ismoved therealong to thereby cause corresponding movement of playingmember 30 along player-concealed surface 24.

My novel game apparatus is also provided with a re-; ceptacle 36 whichincludes a pyramidal-shaped cover37,

upstanding side walls 38 and a bottom wall 39. Cover 37 is comprised ofa plurality of triangular-shaped sides 40 and each of the side walls 38has an opening 41 formed therein. Receptacle 36 is supported on platform14' of support 12 so that the upper and lower surfaces of the coversides 4!) are co-extensive with the respective playerexposed surface 23and the player-concealed surface 24 of one of the decks 11. Thusreceptacle 36 is common to all of the decks 10 and serves to receiveplaying member 30 therein when the same is moved beyond theplayerconcealed surface 24 over which it is traversing.

Deck 10 is also constructed in a manner to facilitate positioning ofplaying member 30 and playing. control member 31 in engaging relationwith player-exposed surface 23 and player-concealed surface 24respectively. Each deck 10 has a notch 42 formed medially of bottom edge21 and which designates a starting point'when using my game apparatus.Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that an arcuate area 43adjacent notch 42 is tapered outwardly to thereby define a thinknife-like edge for facilitating positioning of playing member 30 andplaying control member 31 in playing position. Playing member 30 is heldagainst playing control member 31 because of the magnetic element 33 andthe elements may be moved into engagement with player-exposed surface 23and player-concealed surface 24 respectively without either of saidmembers becoming disengaged therefrom because of the tapered knife-likearcuate area 43.

Since the pyramid 11 of my novel game apparatus is V comprised of fourdecks, the game, of course, oanbe played by two, three, or four players.The object of the game is to find the concealedpassage along theplayerconcealed surface extending from the starting point or notch 42 tothe receptacle 36. It will be understood, of

Patented Sept. 5, 1961 course, that there is a separate playing memberor steel ball 33 for each of the playing control members 31. To startthe game each player takes a deck 13 and secures a plurality of thebarrier elements 27 between adjacent barrier-retaining elements 26 in amanner to thereby block all but one of the passages thereon. This isdone out of the vision of the other players so that the particularplayer who is to traverse this particular deck has no knowledge of thearrangement of the barrier elements 27 thereon. There must be, ofcourse, at least one uninterrupted passage from notch 42 alongplayer-concealed surface 24 to receptacle 36. This uninterrupted passagemay be a substantially straight passage or it may be sinuous and isdependent upon the player arranging the barrier elements of thatparticular deck 10. After each player has arranged the barrier elementsupon the player-concealed surface 24 of his particular deck, the decksare then positioned upon support 12 and receptacle 36 is positioned uponplatform 14.

Pyramid 11 is then rotated one quarter or one half turn to switch thepyramid decks it among the players. The first player starts his playingmember or ball 30 at notch 42 and which is held against player-concealedsurface 24 by playing control member 31. Sliding the playing controlmember 31 along the passages defined by the indicia 29 on player-exposedsurface 23 with the magnetic element 33 positioned against the deck 19causes corresponding movement of the playing member 30 along theplayer-concealed surface 24 until the playing member or ball 30 hits abarrier element 27 and becomes disengaged from the player-concealedsurface 24 and rolls back to the channel 19. It is then the next playersturn.

Each player follows the same procedure and attempts to remember where hehit the barrier element so that he might avoid it on his subsequenttrial. The first player to reach the receptacle 36 with his playingmember or ball 30 is the winner. The remaining players get one lastattempt or turn to tie him.

It will be seen from the preceding paragraphs that I have provided agame apparatus which is not only novel but one which may be enjoyed byboth children and adults. It will also be noted from the foregoingdescription that in the use of my novel game apparatus players maycompete in skill, finesse and judgment to thereby add enjoyment to theirmoments of leisure.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts withoutdeparting from the scope of my invention which consists of the mattershown and described herein and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Game apparatus comprising a substantially flat deck formed ofnon-magnetic material and having a playerexposed surface and aplayer-concealed surface, said player-concealed surface having at leastone barrier-retaining element extending therefrom and defining aplurality of passages thereon, a barrier element removably secured tosaid barrier-retaining element and extending transversely of andcompletely traversing one of said passages, a pair of mutually attractedmagnetic members one of which is magnetized, one of said members movablyengaging said player-exposed surface and the other of said membersmovably engaging said player-concealed surface whereby movement of saidone member along the player-exposed surface will cause correspondingmovement of said other member along the passages of the player-concealedsurface and whereby said other member will be disengaged from saidplayer-concealed surface when moved against said barrier element.

2. Game apparatus comprising a substantially flat deck formed ofnon-magnetic material and having a player-exposed surface and aplayer-concealed surface, a playing member movably engaging saidplayer-concealed surface and a playing control member movably engagingsaid player-exposed surface, said members being formed of magneticmaterial and one of which is magnetized, a plurality ofbarrier-retaining elements secured to and extending from saidplayer-concealed surface in predetermined spaced relation to therebydefine a plurality of passages for movement of said playing membertherealong, and a plurality of barrier elements removably connected withcertain of said barrier-retaining elements and each of which extendsacross selected passages whereby movement of said playing control memberalong the player-exposed surface will cause corresponding movement ofsaid playing member along the passages of said player-concealed surfaceand whereby said playing member will be disengaged from saidplayer-concealed surface when moved against one of said barrierelements.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said player-exposedsurface is provided with a plurality of path defining indicia each ofwhich registers with one of said barrier-retaining elements to therebydefine a plurality of passages thereon corresponding to the passages onsaid player-concealed surface.

4. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said deck is formed ofopaque material.

5. The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said playing membercomprises a ball and said playing control member is elongated and isadapted to be held in upstanding relation by a player with one endthereof engaging said player-exposed surface.

6. The structure as defined in claim 2 and a receptacle positionedclosely adjacent an edge of said deck for re ceiving said playing membertherein when the same is caused to be moved beyond said edge.

7. Game apparatus comprising a plurality of substantiallytrapezoidal-shaped decks juxtaposed in angular side by side relation tothereby define a pyramid, each of said decks being formed ofnon-magnetic material and having a substantially flat player-exposedsurface and a substantially flat player-concealed surface, a playingmember movably engaging a player-concealed surface and a playing controlmember engaging a corresponding player-exposed surface of one of saiddecks, said members being formed of magnetic material and one of whichis magnetized, a plurality of barrier-retaining elements secured to andextending from the player-concealed surface of each of said decks inpredetermined spaced relation to thereby define a plurality of passagesfor movement of said playing member therealong, and each of said deckshaving a plurality of barrier elements removably connected with certainadjacent of said barrier-retaining elements each of which extends acrossselected passages whereby movement of said playing control memher alongthe player-exposed surface will cause corresponding movement of saidplaying member along passages of the player-concealed surface of one ofsaid decks and whereby said playing member will be disengaged from theplayer-concealed surface of said one deck when moved against one of saidbarrier elements.

8. The structure as defined in claim 7 and a truncated pyramidal-shapedsupport having each side thereof positioned below and supporting one ofsaid decks in spaced relationship thereto.

9. The structure as defined in claim 7 and a receptacle positionedadjacent the apex of said pyramid and common to each of said decks forreceiving said playing member therein when the same is caused to bemoved beyond said playenconcealed surface.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,061,864 Palmer May 13, 1913 2,053,598 Blau Sept. 8, 1936 2,081,020Sass May 18, 1937 2,454,939 Oakes Nov. 30, 1948 2,747,872 Harvey May 29,1956 2,873,975 Haws Feb. 17, '1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 186,512 Great BritainOct. 5, 1922

